Veteran Actor Naseeruddin Shah denounces last-minute removal from event

Mumbai: Renowned Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah has claimed that he was unnecessarily removed at the last moment from an event organized by the Urdu Department of Mumbai University, without any explanation or apology.

Writing in the newspaper, Shah described the incident as highly humiliating and disappointing, adding that he had been enthusiastic about interacting with the students.

He stated that the university informed the audience that he had declined to participate, whereas in reality, he was removed without reason. Shah challenged anyone who believed he spoke against the country to provide a single example.

Naseeruddin Shah gained critical acclaim in the 1980s for his roles in art-house Hindi films, including Mandi, Nishant, Aakrosh, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Masoom, and Sparsh.

Looking ahead, Shah will appear in the film Assi alongside Taapsee Pannu, Riwothi, and Manoj Pahwa, set to release on February 20, 2026, and is also slated to feature in Imtiaz Ali’s upcoming film scheduled for release in June 2026.